Antioxidants cure for acne?

I have always had acne. I recently had spectracell results done and it turns out I was deficient in vitamin a, glutathione, and total antioxidant function. Supposedly oily skin utilizes more antioxidants, creating a heavier antioxidant load that the body must bear.
I realize that it takes months to replenish antioxidant levels, but would supplementing the proper antioxidants as well as eating lots of fruit and veggies cure acne in the longer term?

I can't post links but if you google acne and antioxidants some supporting studies will appear.

Acne is a complex beast as OnionKnight stated. Supplementing with anti-oxidants might help or it might not. It could be due to a plethora of factors. I found out my acne was the result of washing my face to much with acne creams (once or twice a day). I now never wash my face with more than water on and my acne is gone.

Over-washing can stimulate the body to produce more oil (because you keep washing the oil off with creams). This was my issue, but it may not be yours.

i think if you looked into the issue more deeply and read the recent studies you would find that acne is caused by free radicals. acne patients tend to have more oxidative stress than the general population.

i think if you looked into the issue more deeply and read the recent studies you would find that acne is caused by free radicals. acne patients tend to have more oxidative stress than the general population.

Again, it is much more complex than this. It's not just one factor, it has many factors and perhaps that is one of many.

The only thing they're good at is preventing disease and free radical oxidation which will help slow the aging process. Other than that they have no other known uses if we assume that the free radical aging theory is valid.

So what are the other factors? I realize that excess oil secretion is one but that is not bad in itself. If there is sufficient antioxidant function in the sebum then acne wont occur. Sure it is a higher load but it is possible to attain.

Excess inflammation in general is associated with conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema and other skin related diseases. An anti-inflammatory diet, followed for more than 30 days seems to alleviate the symptoms of most of these conditions. However this is but one factor that is involved.

Obviously hormones are a main culprit, like when you first hit puberty and start to break out, additionally latent allergies can contribute, stress is a major factor........generally cleanliness and washing your face/body, not as much of a factor as you might think, if anything, people that over-wash and dry their skin out excessively as a result, set themselves up for further outbreaks down the road.

Studies have also linked consumption of dairy products to acne breakouts. Its theorized that the high iodine content in the milk or hormones such as IGF-1 that wind up in the milk lead to this effect.

The interesting thing is that skim milk has been shown to have the highest correlation with acne. The same effects were not found to as high a degree with whole milk.

"The study: Adebamowo and his team reached this conclusion after analyzing the responses of 47,335 women about their diets in high school as part of the ongoing Nurses Health Study II. The women were asked if they usually drank whole milk, powdered milk, low-fat milk or skim/nonfat milk. In addition, they were asked whether they had ever been diagnosed with "severe teenage acne."

The results: Sixty-one percent of the women drank whole milk as teenagers, 20 percent drank low-fat milk, 7 percent drank skim milk, and 2 percent drank powdered milk. Those who drank more than three servings a day of any type of milk were 22 percent more likely to have had severe acne, compared with those who drank one or fewer servings a week. But those who drank two or more servings of skim milk were 44 percent more likely to have had severe acne as a teenager than those who drank one or fewer servings a week, according to a Harvard School of Public Health news release.

While other dairy products, such as instant breakfast drinks, sherbet, cream cheese, and cottage cheese were also associated with acne, chocolate and french fries were not. The researchers theorize it is the hormones in the skim milk causing the acne.

The study findings were reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. "

Oh yeah, change out your bed sheets and pillow cases very frequently, that seems to really help in alleviating the problem for a lot of people. Some dermatogists recommend changing out your pillow cases on a nightly or every-other-night basis.

So what are the other factors? I realize that excess oil secretion is one but that is not bad in itself. If there is sufficient antioxidant function in the sebum then acne wont occur. Sure it is a higher load but it is possible to attain.

Acne Vulgaris and the Epidermal Barrier: Is Acne Vulgaris Associated with Inherent Epidermal Abnormalities that Cause Impairment of Barrier Functions? Do Any Topical Acne Therapies Alter the Structural and/or Functional Integrity of the Epidermal Barrier?

Thiboutot D, Del Rosso JQ.

Source

Professor of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey Pennsylvania;

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disorder that predominantly affects teenagers, but can also affect preadolescents and post-teen individuals. Despite the fact that acne vulgaris is the most common skin disorder encountered in ambulatory dermatology practice in the United States, there has been limited research on the epidermal permeability barrier in untreated skin of people with acne vulgaris and also after use of acne therapies. This article reviews the research results and discusses the available literature on this subject area. The importance of proper skin care as a component of the management of acne vulgaris is supported by the information that is currently available.

PMID: 23441236 [PubMed]

Role of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I in hyperandrogenism and the severity of acne vulgaris in young males.

Saleh BO.

Source

Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. basil_omsal@yahoo.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association of growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) in the production of male sex hormones and the severity of acne in Iraqi male patients, and to assess their role in development of secondary hyperlipidemia in such patients.

METHODS:

We conducted this case-control study and single-center measurement of hormones and selected biochemical parameters in a cohort of volunteer males in the Department of Biochemistry College of Medicine, Baghdad University, and in the Dermatology Department, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Iraq, from January 2010 to November 2010.

RESULTS:

The mean serum levels of GH and IGF-1 of severe acne patients were significantly increased when compared with mild-, moderate acne patients, and healthy controls (p=0.0001). Also, the mean serum total testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were significantly increased in severe acne compared with those of mild- (p=0.0001), moderate acne patients (p=0.005), and healthy males (p=0.0001). The mean values of lipid parameters significantly differed in severe acne patients in comparison with other acne groups and controls (p=0.004). The results also revealed a significant correlation between the studied parameters.

CONCLUSION:

The study showed a significant elevation of serum GH and IGF-1, which enhanced androgen hormone production and the development of severe acne. These patients may develop hyperlipidemia secondary to their hyperandrogenism.

Acne Vulgaris and the Epidermal Barrier: Is Acne Vulgaris Associated with Inherent Epidermal Abnormalities that Cause Impairment of Barrier Functions? Do Any Topical Acne Therapies Alter the Structural and/or Functional Integrity of the Epidermal Barrier?

The mean serum levels of GH and IGF-1 of severe acne patients were significantly increased when compared with mild-, moderate acne patients, and healthy controls (p=0.0001). Also, the mean serum total testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were significantly increased in severe acne compared with those of mild- (p=0.0001), moderate acne patients (p=0.005), and healthy males (p=0.0001). The mean values of lipid parameters significantly differed in severe acne patients in comparison with other acne groups and controls (p=0.004). The results also revealed a significant correlation between the studied parameters.

CONCLUSION:

The study showed a significant elevation of serum GH and IGF-1, which enhanced androgen hormone production and the development of severe acne. These patients may develop hyperlipidemia secondary to their hyperandrogenism.

And so on. So many factors.

All these lanky, skinny dudes walking around with crater faces are just basically slapping God in the face. If you're gonna breakout, you may as well go and get swoll.

haha that is funny as hell that severe acne means you are well on your way to getting jacked. inflammation is correlated with acne, and is a cause of it. interleukin 8 blood levels are correlated with acne, and low glutathione levels are correlated with acne. If you can increase glutathione and decrease interleukin 8 you will be well on your way to decreasing acne. I think doing so over 3 months will decrease acne by 75%

Depending on the results obtained by this study, it can be
concluded that oxidative stress and inflammation exist in patients with
acne vulgaris and may be considered as contributing factors involved
in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease. Administration of Silymarin,
N-Acetylcysteine and Selenium resulted in significant correction of the
disturbed antioxidative status of acne patients, and a marked reduction
in the inflammation, in addition to clinical improvement represented
by reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions in patients with
papulopustular acne. Glutathione is negatively correlated, while
malondialdehyde and interleukin-8 are positively correlated with
the clinical features (score) of acne, therefore targeting these changes
with oral antioxidants might represent a new therapeutic strategy in
treatment of acne vulgaris

and also oxidative stress is associated with depression and anxiety among other things, so by simply taking accutane you may be treating the outer problem while ignoring an inner mental problem that is even greater.

Thins that have helped my acne: do not touch your face, wash your face twice a day (once with exfoliator in the shower), decline in dairy consumption use a different pillow case or different side every night.

According to the study results that were released this past december: if you take nacetylcysteine for 2 months your acne will decrease by 50% (at the end of the 2 months). Acne may decrease even more if continued after the 2 months. Acne is correlated with blood glutathione levels.

No, I think you just assume that everything has a sole root cause when acne does not. Have you even looked into the causes of acne rather than just googling it? Theres more than one root cause ergo theres more than one explanation for its removal.

Go ahead and comsume more anti-oxidant containing foods if you believe that to be the sole reason. Doesn't bother me.

No man I never said that. I am simply saying that these other factors generally cause and are the result of an increased oxidative load. I do believe that consuming adequate antioxidants over time would alleviate most peoples acne considerably.

No man I never said that. I am simply saying that these other factors generally cause and are the result of an increased oxidative load. I do believe that consuming adequate antioxidants over time would alleviate most peoples acne considerably.

No man I never said that. I am simply saying that these other factors generally cause and are the result of an increased oxidative load. I do believe that consuming adequate antioxidants over time would alleviate most peoples acne considerably.

I had a hand in producing this article. The root cause of acne is inflammation, not excessive sebum production.

Severe acne is inflammation yes, but not all acne is inflammatory-remembering that there are several form of acne [i.e. vulgaris and acne rosacea] that may not stem from the same root cause (increase in androgens for example: hence why many people get acne while using androgens)

Severe acne is inflammation yes, but not all acne is inflammatory-remembering that there are several form of acne [i.e. vulgaris and acne rosacea] that may not stem from the same root cause (increase in androgens for example: hence why many people get acne while using androgens)

No, inflammation is a process that is involved in all forms of acne. Any time there is redness there is inflammation to varying degrees. The increase in sebum caused by androgens simply gives the bacteria an environment to thrive in, and then the body reacts to it from there.

No, inflammation is a process that is involved in all forms of acne. Any time there is redness there is inflammation to varying degrees. The increase in sebum caused by androgens simply gives the bacteria an environment to thrive in, and then the body reacts to it from there.

No, inflammation is a process that is involved in all forms of acne. Any time there is redness there is inflammation to varying degrees. The increase in sebum caused by androgens simply gives the bacteria an environment to thrive in, and then the body reacts to it from there.

But yes I agree, the redness in most forms of acne (typically the ones that really bother you) are caused by inflammation. All i'm saying is that the increase in sebum can be attributed to a multitude of factors, hence the reason there are varying ways to get rid of the problem.